Tool dust control attachment

ABSTRACT

A tool accessory is disclosed comprising a tube and capable of attachment to the body of a tool (for example, a rotary grinder) by means of a mounting tab. The tube has a first end with an opening positioned proximate to the source of dust created by the tool. The second end of the tube is adapted for connection to a vacuum source. The opening collects substantially all of the dust from the tool, but does not obstruct the view of the grinding bit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/922,966, filed Jan. 2, 2014, whichis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to hand held tool accessories,specifically to accessories that collect air born particles created whenabrasive stones or bits are used to grind softer materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hand held tools create dust and debris. Rotary grinders, in particular,create large amounts of fine dust. The dust is inhaled and deposited inthe eyes and on the skin of people and animals in the immediate area ofthe grinding operation. The dust created can be a health hazard.

In recent years the use of rotary grinders has become a preferred methodof trimming and buffing nails. Particularly in the pet groomingindustry, groomers are using rotary grinders in increasing numbers.There is a concern about the consequences of breathing the particlesthat are created when the nails are ground. The dust created isirritating to the lungs and eyes of people and animals and can triggerasthma attacks. Operators can also be exposed to biohazards such asbacteria and protozoa contained in the dust.

When using a rotary grinder on people and animals, it is also importantto have a clear sight of the grinding bit and its contact point ascontact with soft tissue would cause injury. It would therefore beadvantageous to develop an apparatus for reducing the dangers of usingrotary grinders by collecting the grinding dust while allowing theoperator a clear view of the object being grinded.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to collect the dust created whenusing a rotary grinding tool and evacuate it by positioning a properlyproportioned nozzle and vacuum source near the grinding bit, cuttingwheel, sander, or other source of the dust.

Another object of the present invention is to allow the operator fullvisibility of the grinding bit. This is achieved by not employing ashroud around the bit. This also allows the bit of the grinder to bereplaced without detaching the dust collection attachment from thegrinder.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide uniformairflow around the full girth of the grinding bit by utilizing aminimally restrictive air flow path.

Briefly stated, yet another aspect of the present invention provides adevice that is easily attached to a portable handheld rotary grinder.Dust removal is accomplished by operably connecting the device to avacuum source. The device is comprised of a singular tube that ispositioned along a portion of the length of the grinder body, extendingtowards the rear of the grinder where it connects to the vacuum source.In one embodiment, the tube conforms to the general shape of thegrinder's body, sweeping gradually toward the end positioned adjacent tothe grinding bit. The end proximate the grinding bit is terminated insuch a way that the side walls of the opening of the tube are parallelto the grinding surface of the grinding bit. In one embodiment, the sizeof the opening is substantially the size of the grinding bit.Preferably, the opening is slightly longer and wider than the bit. Thepath of the rotating bit can extend slightly into the plane created bythe opening at the end of the tube near the grinding bit. Alternatively,the path of the bit can be adjacent to the plane of the opening. Thetube is attached to the grinder utilizing a thin plate with a hole thatis adapted to engage the body of the grinder. A band strap can be addedto steady the end of the tube connected to the vacuum source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A is a side view of a first embodiment of the present inventionattached to a typical rotary grinder.

FIG. 1B is a view of an exemplary vacuum system adaptable to the presentinvention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention notattached to the grinder.

FIG. 3 is close view of one end of the tool attached to a typicalgrinder.

FIG. 4 is a view looking into the opening of one end of the tool.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The tool dust control attachment 1 is comprised of a tube 10 having afirst end 15 and a second end 20. There are openings 18 and 19 at eachend of tube 10 to allow passage of dust through the tube. The attachment1 further has a mounting tab 7, which is used to secure the too dustcontrol attachment 1 to grinder 2. At the first end 15 of the attachment1 is an opening 18 adapted to collect dust dispersed by the grinding bit5 of the rotary tool 2. The second end 20 of the tube 10 is adapted toconnect to a source of vacuum, embodied as an electric vacuum cleaner 3as shown in FIG. 1B. As seen in FIG. 1A, hose 4 fluidly connects thetool dust control device 1 to the vacuum cleaner 3 at vacuum connection21.

Though the invention is described being assembled to a rotary grinder 2,it is not to be limited to only being compatible with a rotary grinder2. The tool dust control attachment can be adapted to routers,oscillating multi-tools, or any other tool that creates dust. Inaddition, the tool dust control attachment 1 can be constructed ofmetal, plastic, or any material capable of retaining its shape undervacuum pressure.

The grinder 2 shown in FIGS. 1-3 can be one of many commerciallyavailable rotary grinders, such as a DREMEL® rotary tool, and can bepurchased from a variety of venders and retail outlets. Such grindersoperate between 10000-15000 rpm and are capable of spreading fineparticles of dust at these speeds. The vacuum source 3 can be of thetype generally described as a shop vacuum or any other vacuum sourcewith a hose extension. The grinder 2 is typically fitted with a grindingbit 5 such as an abrasive stone, sanding disk, or rotary file by meansof a collet 6 or chuck.

Tool dust control attachment 1 is capable of being attached to the bodyof the grinder 2 by a mounting tab 7. As shown in FIG. 2, mounting tab 7is a flat plate that can be secured under the retaining nut 8 of thegrinder 2. The mounting tab 7 can be of varied thickness, but should notbe so thick that it interferes with the operation of retaining nut 8 onthe threaded end 13 of grinder 2. FIG. 1 depicts this preferredembodiment, with the tab 7 under retaining nut 8. As further shown inFIG. 2, mounting tab 7 has an opening 12 large enough to receive thethreaded end 13 of the rotary grinder 2. Retaining nut 8, which is partof the grinder 2, is tightened on threaded end 13 with thin mountingplate 7 interposed between the retaining nut contact surface 14—which istypically part of the body of grinder 2—and retaining nut 8, therebyretaining thin mounting tab 7 and securing rotary grinder dust controlattachment 1 to grinder 2. The mounting tab 7 extends laterally fromtube 10. In alternative embodiments, mounting tab 7 can be a clamp-likedevice or a ring, as shown in FIG. 3, that engages the body of grinder2.

In one embodiment, end 15 of tube 10 is bent at an angle β towards thegrinding bit 5 when assembled to grinder 2. As shown in FIG. 2, angle βis the angle between a surface of the tube 10 along the main body and asurface of the tube 10 at the first end 15 proximate the grinding bit 5.In the preferred embodiment, the bend begins at longitudinal point P1along tube 10 adjacent mounting plate 7 and continues along a length L2of tube 10, thereby directing nozzle 11 near the grinding bit 5.

Angle β is about 25 to 35 degrees in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.However, as a person having skill in the art will appreciate, angle β isdependent on the length of end 15 and the shape of grinder 2. If thelength of end 15 is longer, angle β will be less steep than if end 15 isshorter. In the preferred embodiment, the bend of the tube 10 isgradual—meaning it does not have sharp creases in tube 10—to maintainoptimum airflow.

The radial distance L1 from the center of hole 12 in the mounting plate7 to the outer wall of the tube 10 is dependent on the size of the bodyof grinder 2, and is nearly equal to the radius of the body of grinder 2at its largest point when the tube 10 runs parallel along the length ofthe grinder 2, as shown in FIG. 1A. Alternatively, the distance L1 isless than the radius of the largest point as long as the distance issufficient to allow end 15 to clear the collet 6, and retaining nut 8.An additional band 9 or strap can be added near the center or end of thebody of the grinder 2 to stabilize the tool dust control attachment 1with respect to grinder 2. A similar band 9 can be used to stabilize thehose 4 to the grinder 2.

Tube 10 has an opening 18, forming nozzle 11, at the end 15 adjacent tothe grinding bit 5. At the opposite end, or distal end 20, is a vacuumtube connection 21. In the preferred embodiment, the vacuum connection21 is an area at the end of the tube 10 that receives a hose 4 from thevacuum source 3. The hose 4 can be held to the tube 10 by a frictionfit, gasket, set screw, or other means typically used for securing avacuum to an attachment. For example, a common connection means isproviding the attachment with an outer diameter that is substantiallythe inside diameter of the hose, so that the hose 4 slides over theattachment. A taper on either the hose 4 or attachment secures theconnection. Alternatively, FIG. 5 shows as set screw 22.

Referring again to FIG. 1A, tool dust control attachment 1 has tube body10 that can be substantially straight and follows along the body of thegrinder 2. In this embodiment, tube 10 extends beyond the rear of thegrinder body. Alternatively, tube body 10 of the grinder can extend to apoint along the body of the grinder.

Now turning to FIG. 3, the end 15 of tube 10 is cut near theintersection point of the grinding bit 5 to form opening 18 on nozzle11. Angle θ is the angle between the plane of opening 18 and thesidewall of tube 10 at end 15. This angle is partially dependent on thesweep of end 15 and the proximity to collet 6. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 3, the plane of opening 18 (identified as P2 in FIG. 3) issubstantially parallel to the side 16 of the cylindrical bit 5, which isrepresented by angle α. The plane of opening 18 is also substantiallyparallel to rotating axis X. As further shown in FIG. 3, rotating axis Xis co-axial with a center line of hole 12 in mounting tab 7. The nozzleopening 18 can be flared to an oval shape to form a nozzle 11 and islarger than the length D of the grinding bit 5. Alternatively, opening11 can be formed to other shapes than an oval. For example, for a flatgrinding stone, the shape of opening 18 could be flattened as well.

Referring again to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the end 15 of tube 10does not obstruct the view of the grinding bit 5. In addition, theposition of the tool attachment 1 does not inhibit the operator fromaccessing the collet 6. This allows the operator to replace the grindingbit 5 without removing attachment 1. In the preferred embodiment, theside 16 of the grinding bit 5 just contacts or breaks the plane P2 ofthe opening 18, which is defined by the walls 17 of tube 10 formingopening 18. FIG. 4 shows an alternative view with walls 17 clearlydefining the opening 18. Alternatively, the plane of opening 18 ispositioned adjacent to the outer circumference of grinding bit 5.

Although FIG. 3 depicts plane P2 nearly parallel, it can be oriented atan angle a relative to axis X ranging from −30 degrees to 30 degrees orany acceptable angle appropriate of a desired tool. Angle α can bevaried depending on the shape of the grinding bit 5. For example, theangle can be negative for a pyramid-shaped bit 5. The configuration ofopening 18 on nozzle 11 allows fluid flow around the grinding bit 5 tomodify the spray pattern towards the opening 18 in the nozzle 11 suchthat substantially all of the dust and debris enters opening 10. Opening18 can also be adapted to other shapes than a flat plane to more closelymatch the shape of grinding bit 5. However, the shape of nozzle 11should not obstruct the view of an operator or prevent removal of thebit.

In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the body of the tooldust control attachment is substantially straight. That is, angle β isaround zero. To position the tip close to the grinding bit 5, the tube10 as a whole is angled relative to the body of grinder 2. Stateddifferently, the axis of the tube 10 is not parallel to a line extendingalong the length of the rotary tool 2. The angle of the tube 10 is setby attaching the mounting tab 7 at an angle relative to the tube 10. Asshown in FIG. 5, the angle of tab 7 will result in a similar anglebetween tube 10 and the body of rotary grinder 2 because the center ofthe mounting tab 7, when attached, aligns with the centerline of therotary grinder 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the angle is around 40 degrees. Inthis embodiment, the first end 15 is positioned relative to grinding bit5 in a similar manner to the previously described embodiment. Forexample, the side walls 17 of the nozzle 11 are parallel to the grindingbit 5 and the bit 5 extends into a plane defined by the opening 18 ofthe nozzle 11. Alternatively, the bit 5 can be adjacent to the plane.

While the disclosure has been described in detail and with reference tospecific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in theart that various changes and modifications can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Thus, it isintended that the present disclosure cover the modifications andvariations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An attachment for collecting dust from a toolhaving a body and a source of dust, wherein the attachment comprises: atube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has anopening and the second end is adapted to connect to a vacuum source; amounting tab connected to the tube between the first end and the secondend, wherein the mounting tab has a hole sized to receive the tool; andwherein a plane defined by the opening of the first end is oriented atangle α relative to a line extending along the length of the tool. 2.The attachment of claim 1: wherein the first end of the tube is bent atan angle β relative to the axis of the tube; and wherein the mountingtab is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tube.
 3. Theattachment of claim 1, wherein the mounting tab is connected at an angleφ relative to the axis of the tube.
 4. The attachment of claim 1,further comprising a strap capable of stabilizing the tube relative tothe body of the tool.
 5. The attachment of claim 2, wherein the angle βis about 25 to 35 degrees.
 6. The attachment of claim 1, wherein theangle a ranges from −30 degrees to +30 degrees.
 7. The attachment ofclaim 6, wherein the angle a is substantially 0 degrees.
 8. Theattachment of claim 1, wherein the center of the hole aligns with theaxis of rotation of the tool when attached to the tool.
 9. Theattachment of claim 1, wherein the mounting tab is a flat plate.
 10. Theattachment of claim 1, wherein an area of the opening of the first endis greater than an area of the source of dust.
 11. The attachment ofclaim 1, wherein the source of dust is adjacent to the opening.
 12. Theattachment of claim 1, wherein the source of dust penetrates the planedefined by the opening.
 13. The attachment of claim 1, wherein theopening is oval-shaped.
 14. An attachment for collecting dust from atool having a body, a collet, a collet retaining nut, and a source ofdust, wherein the attachment comprises: a tube having a first end and asecond end, wherein the first end has an opening and the second end isadapted to connect to a vacuum source; a mounting tab connected to thetube between the first end and the second end, wherein the mounting tabis adapted to be retained on the tool near the collet by the colletretaining nut; and wherein a plane defined by the opening of the firstend is oriented at angle α relative to a line extending along the lengthof the tool.